If you have a criminal conviction on your record in California, you might be able to get the conviction expunged. Expungement means that the conviction is erased from your record, and you’ll be able to go on with your life like nothing happened. The only difference is that you might have to disclose the expungement when you apply for certain jobs.
When do you have to report expungement?
Most of the time, you don’t need to tell your employer about any crime expungement/dismissal on your record. However, you might have to disclose your expungements if you plan on entering the legal or government system. For example, if you want to become an attorney or a police officer, the law might require you to tell your employer about past expungements.
You might also have to disclose your expungements if you want to become a teacher, a daycare worker or another employee that works with children. Additionally, some states require you to disclose your expungements if you want to buy a firearm. Telling your employer about your expungements doesn’t automatically mean that you won’t get hired, so it’s important to be honest about your criminal record. A criminal defense attorney could give you advice on your situation if you’re not sure how to proceed.
How can you get your record expunged?
Getting a past conviction expunged can help you live your life again without a criminal record hanging over your head. An attorney could tell you if you’re eligible for expungement, and if so, how to proceed. Some convictions can only be expunged after a certain amount of time has passed. Your attorney could also suggest other options like getting your records sealed, having the charges reduced or attempting to get a pardon from the governor of California.